Apparatus for the manufacture of imitation metal foil or leaf.



K. E. OLSON. UFACTURE 0F IMITATION METAL FOIL 0R LEAF.

V APPLlCATlON FlLED JULY 28. 1915.

APPARATUS FOR THE MAN Patented Dec. 28, 191.3.

2 SHEETS-SHE L.

K. E. OLSON. V APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF IMITATION METAL FOIL 0R LEAF.

APPLlCATlON FILED JULY 28, 1915.

Patented Dec. '28, 1915.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2;

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, AEL E; onson, or, IEvINeToN',', NEW JERSEY.

rPAEATUs FOR THE MANUFACTURE or IMITAT ON METAL FOIL on LEAF,

igii iaao.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

brigi inal application. filed March 2, 1915, Serial. No. 11.635. Divided and this application filed M 28,

leaf.

n One of -the-ob]ects OftllQillVEIltlOIl is to provide an apparatus vvhich, while operat- .15 ing with only a few workmen, shall produce ficontinuously a large number substantially perfect sheets. I

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this type in which subper hour of stantiallyall of the preliminary steps leading pm the formation'of a film or leaf, as

are-carried on alftomatically.

Another 01)}8012 of the invention is to pro '25 vide a simple, inexpensive apparatus of the I r-kmd described, which may be drlven-froma single source of power andvvhich may be qu ckly and conveniently started by a single operative, or stopped, if necessary, for inspection of the leaf or otherpurposes.

Other obj'ects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

Thief application is a division of my copending application Serial Number 11685, 3 5 filed March 2, 1915, and'certain features described therein vvill here be omitted.

The invention comprises a hardleaf support,- a device for preliminarily coating the 'leaf support, means for conveying the so- 4Q;coated leaf support to a leaf-forming chamfibeig' -"device for forming the leaf on the lea-fsupport,and means for conveying'the berand bringing it first to a positionvfor f tre'atnfentwith a stripping solution and tl ereafter into a position for stripping.

Tn'car'rying out the process of my inven-' on in its-"preferredform. I employ an aparatus-of'u'hich an embodiment is shown in SO/the"accompanying drawings. I

, Referring novv to these drawmgs:

paratus on the line I-I of Fig. 2; Fig. 2

well 5 as ertain important steps thereafter,

support so treated through a drying cham- Figure 1 represent --a sectional plan new of the ap-.

' Y 1915. Serial No. 42,284. Y

represents a sectional elevation taken on the" line 1I-II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 represents a sectional elevation taken on the line II IIII of Fig. 1; Fig. 1 representsa front eleva? tion of the apparatus viewed from the right of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation on the line V,V of Fig. 1'; Fig. 6 is a. partial cross-sectionalelevation on the line VIVI of 1 and F ig. 7 is a detail Viewshowing the stripping ofa leaf from a leaf support.

In the'dravvings a series of leaf supportsis shown, each support comprismg a sheet of plate or other hard glass 1 to receive the leaf, which is formed according to the formula set forth in my co -pending application, although it will of course be understood that the apparatus is capable of producing colored or imitation metallic leaves generally. Ac rectangular frameB of oblong shape surroundsthe plate 1 to protect-the glass and permit ready handling thereof.

Glass orsimilar substance is chosen as the.

leaf support not only on account of its hard l .ness, .vvhlch gives to the leaf a brilliant surface, but also because in spraying, as hereinafter set, forth, the densityof the leaf as it is being formed may be noted, whereby the thickness of the resulting leaf may be a determined. By noting the outline of the particles in the leaf as revealed by the light passing through the glass and through the leaf, the characteristics and action of the spray may be ascertained also.

The method of forming the leaf upon the leaf support, of preparing it for stripping therefrom, and ultimately. executing the stripping action, maybe generally stated as follovvs: The glass 1 is first treated with a solutioncontaining a volatile solvent. The

volatilesolvent is then evaporated, leaving a hardlsubstantially dry coating thereon. The glass isthen brought in front ofa spraying apparatus and the spraying mixtureis projected thereupon by means of ant-atomizer. After the leaf is sprayed upon the'leaf sup port, it is carried through a drying chamber,

through which a current of air is circulating, and dried. It is then delivered upon' a treated for stripping and stripped.

Referring now in detail to the method framework outside the drying chamber,

mentioned and the apparatus used in carry:

ing it out: Having cleansed. the glass of the support, it is placed in position to be carried along a rope conveyer consisting of two parallel ropes 3 and i which are supported upon longitudinal guide bars 5 and .6. The

' conveyance of plates 1 bythe ropes 3 and l is effected by frictional engagement therebetween in this embodnnent. These ropes are driven from a roller 7 over which they pass at one end and areguided by the roller 8- at the opposite end of. the .conveyer and the'roller 9, which is situated near the driving roller 7, and which with the roller 7' provides a decided pitch therebetween. The

guide bars are suitably supported by UP-.-

rights 10. i'issuming that one of these leaf supports is in the p )sition designated A in Fig. '1, that is, that it is just about to be engaged by the. rope conveyer for transmission thereby, the preliminary coating of the glass is accomplished by means of an auto-, .matrally actuated sprayer apparatus posltioned on a cross bar 11 held in place above the traveling leaf supports. This spraying apparatusconsists of a reservoir 12 for the liquid to be sprayed, spray nozzles 13 arranged 111 a bank of four, the nozzles and the reservoir being supplied with air under pressure through a pipe 11 extending to an ordinary type of air compressor.

In the pipe 1-.i: is inserted a rotatable valve 15 whose rotatable member is actuated by a weight-controlled arm 16. The weight isadaptedto hold the valve in closed position, thus shutting oif theair pressure from the reservoir. This weight-held arm, however, projects above the plane of the pathway which the leaf supports are caused to take whenthey rest upon the rope conveyer, andwhen the frontedge of one of these leaf supports contacts with the projecting portion of the arm 16, it urges this arm downwardly against the weight and opens the valve 15, thereby admitting air to the reservoir and the spraying nozzles. The. four 11oz.-

zles, being directed downwardly to deliver a spray upon the plates, are actuated by this means and continue to spray the plates until the rear edge of the leaf support has passed over the arm 16, thereby releasingit and shutting ofl the spray until the next leaf support of the series contacts in a simimade of light cloth.

.lar manner, and so on throughout the series.

The spraying liquid used in carrying out the preferred process 18 a solution of beeswax and gasolene. in the proportion of a.

echamber is three sided, having a fiat top and sides extending therefrom down to the guide bars. The bottom is open. The drying chamber receives air-from a fan through an opening hereinafter described. In passing through the drying chamber the gasolene is driven oti' and the remaining wax leaves a hardsub-. stantially transparent covering upon the glass 1. Toward the delivery end of the rope conveyer, as heretofore mentioned, there is a distinct pitch between the rollers 9 and '7, this pitch being provided in order that the leaf supports may assume the position which they .ccupy when they are sprayed to form the leaf thereon.- After, passing through the drying chamber which terminates at the beginning of-this pitch; the plates incline and finally come to restagainst a cross bar positioned above the roller 7. From this point the leaf support may be moved laterally with respect to the guide'bars 5 and (5 and'entirely out of the path of the rope conveyor to a position upon another rope conveyor consisting of the ropes 19 and 20 running alongthe guide bars 91 and 22 and over rollers 9'3 and 2. positioned at the opposite ends'of the conveyer and a roller 25 positioned with respect to roller 23-115 roller 9 is to roller 7. in order togive the same pitchto the conveyor at. this point. In sliding across from the first conveyer to the second one. the leaf supports are supported by cross bar 18 and transverse .bars 27 over which the ropes of both conveyers run and which are arranged with their upp'erfaces at the same angle as the inclination of the ropes. The leaf supports having been placed in position upon. the ropes 19 and 20 of the second conveyer, an ordinary type of air spraying apparatus comprising the reservoir 28 and spray nozzles 29 and 30 for air and liquid. respectively, is filled with the half-forming liquid mentioned in connection with the descrip-' tion of the leaf given in the first par t.of the specification. Air is supplied from an ordinary compressor apparatus and fur nished to the air -spra ving apparatusthrough a pipe 31, toavhich 'is also joined thepipe ll. When the fingerijz? is lowered the airis forced through the no? 1 the liquid is atomized as itfis from nozzle 30. The leaf support is. allowed to move slowly upward with the ropes of the conveyer, and at the same time the glass 1 of the support iscovered with a coating from the spray by moving the reservoir with its nozzle attached thereto slowlybacl-z and forth. When the plate has been sprayed it. passes into a second drying (llilllilJLltllltl another leaf support is brought over from. thefirst conveyer-incliue and piaced in a position on the second ronveyer, to be sprayed as heretofore related.

in carrying out the spraying a good deal ofvolatile matter and bronze dust will of course be projected into the air above-"the face of, the leaf support, and in order to avoid danger in connection with the libera tion of theseproducts, they are preferably sucked oft- ;throiigh a hood 33, in the top of which is positioned a flue 34 lead-ingto the .blower 35,; which is operated by the shaft "36 driven by any'suitable means from an outside source of power.

-The chamber 33 is provided with a curtain-covered slit 37 in its side wall, through which the leaf supports may be pushed from one conveyer to the other, The rear wall of the hood 33 isalso provided with an opening closed by a curtain 38. After spraying the leaf support resting on: the

rope conveyer passes into the drying chamthe hood. The stop mechanism controls the common driving means for'the two rollers 7 I and 23. This driving means consists of a pair of tight. and loose pulleys 40 mounted on the shaft 36 of the blower connected by to the loose pulleys of the sets 40 and 742., the

a belt 41 with a! pair of tight and loose pulleys 42 mounted on a shaft 43 below shaft 86. Mounted onshaft 43 is a third pulley 44k which transmits motion by means of a belt 45 to a pulley 46 on. shaft 47, on which is mounted roller 23. Shaft 47 is sup ported at the pulley end by one of the uprights of the frame, and at the otherend is provided with a bevel gear 48 seated against the end of roller 23. This bevel gear 48 rests on a beveled annulus 49 which has a support 50. r Gear 48 transmits motion to the annulus, which in turn transmits its motion to the roller 7 through the bevel gear' 51 mounted on-a suitably supported. shaft 52 which supports the roller 7. To stop the rollers a belt-shifter 53 is employed mounted pivotally on the wall of the hood, to coact with the belt 41. The shifter is heldby a spring 54, and in turn holds the belt in position to be driven When the belt is thrown rollers 7 and 23, and thereby the rope conveyer systems, stop. The belt may be thrown by means of an arm 55 connected to the belt-shifter 53. i

It will be noted according to the construction recited that the rollers 7 and 23 will ports to go up one side and return the other, and thereby complet ng the cycle of operations.

The, drying chamber 39, into which the leaf-covered leaf supports pass is similar in shape and construction to the dryingcharm 'ber l7, being rectangular and oblong. .in-

form. It is however slightly longer tl 1an the drying-chamber 17 and overlaps it con-j- I sequently at the end opposite the curtain'38.

. 7-0 This drying chamber is provided with walls;

of cloth and is supported by suitable frame;

work comprising uprights and'cr'oss bars 56,

Its sides extend downwardly as far as'the I.

guide bars 21 and 22' At the opposite end; i

of the drying chamber and mounted on the framework therefor, at the extremity thereof, is a motor-driven fan 57, which serves to circulate air through the drying -chamber 139,.and also through the drying chamber 17 through the opening 58, which provides-a; communication between the" two drying chambers Upon emergence from the drying cham 'ber 39 the leaf support passes onto and comes to rest upon an L-shaped platform59 f formed by the extensions of the guide' bars for the two drying chambers and cross bars 60 extending therebetween. \Vhen'theleaf emerges 'upon this platform, it is substantially dry. It is then moved.over.to theop? posite side of the platform from the-drying chamber 39 and is prepared for stripping. This stripping is effected by the wetting of the plate with a solution which according to the preferredprocess contains the following ingredients in the proportions stated gasolene, 7 fluid ounces, thinner solution containing amylacetate and other soluble cotton solvents, one "ounce, wan, one-six teenth ounce. The leaf thoroughly wet with this mixture by means of a camels hair brush dipped into the mixture and then moved over the'surfa'ce of the '105 leaf, the latter is 7 next cut on two. sides.

This. having been accomplished, a-sheet of absorbentpaper is'placed upon the face of the'leaf, and the corner resulting from the cut is urged gently against the-{underside of the paper. Then,.by gently raisingathe paper,-as shown in Fig.7, the adhering leaf may be removed completely fromjthe glass plate. The leaf is then put aside. to dry'and r having. been iio may subsequently be cut 'upg-into various sizes. The glass plateonly 'requirestofbe first rope conveyer through the preliminar coatingprocess, drying,etc. p The construction set -forth,'it w llbe are preferably kept following as closely upon one another ,as is feasible for han-J dling and conducting the various operations necessary.

iis scrapeda little with almifeand may then 1 j be placed in position for conveyance by the;

rents the adhesion of the leaf to the dies- 1 jThe solvents used in the stripping solutionpenetrate the leaf and thus loosen it 0111- the background upon which it rests. "The wax used in the stripping solution ser es not only .to-prevent the too rapid evaporation of the volatile solvents before they have accomplished their work, but it also acts as a size in itself. It further prewhen it is employed in stampin The process is. an exceedingly simple one and "practically unskilled labor may be dependprocess of spraying, drying, stripping, etc.,

may. be carried on with great rapidity, and -'yv1th the apparatus shown with great elliciency. '1he leaf produced, using the formula set forth 111 my co-pendmg application heretofore mentioned, is of exceptional luster and br1ll-1ancy,and has a relatively great adhesive property. The leaf may be handled before drying, or afterward, with no'danger of its breaking up',-and possesses generally, in a high degree, the desired characteristics set forth in my copending application hereinbefore mentioned. It will thus be seen that I have achieved among outer-s thn Qbiects of my invention heretofore set forth. V

Having thus described vmy invention, I claim:

- 1. In apparatus for the production of a thin film or leaf, in combination, a ,hard

transparent support, spraying means for.

producing a leaf thereon, and means to move position In apparatus for the productlon ofa thin film or leaf, in combination, a glassplate, a sprayer for projecting a leafthcreon, and aconveyer means for conducting the plate toward and away from the leafreceiving position.

3. In apparatus for theproduction of a thin film or leaf, in combination. a leaf supporting plate, -a sp iyinghood, meansto support-said plate 111 an inclined position in said hood, and means to move said plate out of said hood. I

4. In apparatus for the production of a thin film or leaf, in combination, a leaf support, a spraying hood, and a convey-er having an inclined way in said hood. said convever operating to move said support through said hood in an inclined position.

5. In apparatus for the production of a thin film or leaf, in combination, a leaf sup- :said supportaway from the leaf-producing port, a spraying hood. and a conveyer for moving said support in an inclined position through said. hood, said conveyor compnsang 111g device.

cable members, inclined guides therefor, and rollers positioned to provide a pitch to said cable member 1 6. In apparatus for the, production of a thin film'or leaf, in combination, a support for a leaf, spraying means to project a leaf onto said support, a spraying hood, said spraying means being positioned to operate in said hood, and inclined 'conveyer members serving to move said leaf support under the sprayer means in an inclined position through said hood. v T. ln apparatus forthe production of a thin film or leaf, in combination, a glass plate adapted to receive a leaf, spraying means adapted to produce a leaf thereon, a drying chamber for drying the leaf produced, and controllable means to move said plate into the drying chamber,

S. In apparatus for the production of a thin film or leaf, in combination, a support, coating means for providing a preliminary coating on said support, means for producing a leaf on said support over said coating, and means to cause the circulation of a drying medium over thepreliminary coating, said coating meansbe'ing at a suflicient distance from the leaf-producing means to permit a drying of the coating under the action of the drying medium.

- 9. In apparatus for the production of a thin film or leaf, in combination, a support,

, s ra 'in means for JIOYldlD a )relimmar r coating on said support, means for producing a leaf on said support over said coating, and means to cause the circulation of a drying medium over the preliminarycoating, said spraying means being at a sufiicient distance from the leaf-producing means to permit a drying of the coating under the actionof the drying medium,

10. In apparatus for the production of a t-11in film or leaf, in combination, a support. for a leaf, a conveyer means for said support, and means adapted to provide a preliminary coating thereon comprising a spraying device and a member actuated by the said support for-controlling the sprayll'. In apparatus for the production of a .thin film or leaf, a supportfor a'leaf, a

guide for said support, conveyer means for urging said support along said guide, a spraying device positioned adjacent said guide, and an air supply for operating said spraying device, said air supply being provided with a valve member operating to control the spraying device, said valve member being positioned adjacent said guide and. adapted to be acted upon by the passage of said support, I 12. In apparatus for the production of a or leaf, in combination, aseries of leaf supports, means to produce leaves on said supports, a chamber, conveyer 1:30

means'adapted to deliver the series of leaf supports to a position for spraying,'and a second conveyer means for moving said leaf supports from the leaf-producing position through the drying chamber.

13 ."In apparatus for the production'of a thin film orleaf, in combination, a series of leaf supports, spraying means for producing leaves thereon, a spraying chamber, a drying chamber communicating therewith, a couveyer means for conveying said leaf supports toward the spraying chamber, and a second conveyer meansfor moving said leaf supports through said spraying chamber and into said drying chamber. I

a 14. In apparatus for the. production of a thin hlni or leaf, in combination, a series of leaf supports, means for'producing a preliminary coating upon said supports, means to produce leaves upon the so-c oated supports, a drying chamber, a stripping table, and conveyer means forcontinuously moving the leaf supports toward the'leaf-producing posltion and away from the leafproducing position into the drying chamber to the stripping table.

15. In apparatus for the production of a thin film orleaf, in combination, a series of leaf. supports, substantially parallel guide tables along which said supports travel, conveyer means for urging said supports along said tables, means to produce'a preliminary coating upon said supports, said tables being pitched at onevendya spraying hood'positioned over the pitchof one of the-tables, a

drying chamber adjacent said spraying hood, one of said conveying means being adapted to m ve said supports through said spraying chamber and said drying chamber,- and a stripping table positioned beyond the thin leaf or film, a frame constituting acircuitous pat-h, leaf supports adapted to travel 1n successlon therealong, conveyer means to cause said leaf supports to travel along said i path, means for covering said supports with a film-forming material, and means to cause the circulation of-a drying medium over the so-covered supports.

17. In apparatus for theproduction of a thin leaf or film, a frame constituting a circuitous path, leaf supports adapted to travel in succession therealong, means to coat each of said supports at one point in their travel with a film-forming material, and .means to cause a circulation of air over said leaf supports. I

.18. In apparatus for the production of a thin leaf or'film, a frame constituting a circuitous path, leaf supports adapted to travel in succession along said path, means to coat each of said supports with a preliminary coating, means remote from said first mentioned means adapted to cover said supports with a film-forming material, and means to cause the circulation of a drying medium over the supports after provision of the prelnnlnary coating andafter the covering of the supports with the film-form- KARL E. OLSON.

ing materlal. 

